Curtain stretcher



April 13, 1937; R WALLS 2,077,291

CURTAIN STRETGHER Filed Nov. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 13, 1937. R. E. WALLS CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Nov. 21, 1935 2 Sheets-She et 2 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CURTAIN STRETCHER Richard E. Walls,

Youngstown, Ohio Application November 21, 1935, Serial No. 50,930

5 Claims.

The invention relates particularly to curtain stretchers of the adjustable type. It contemplates a structure which may be readily assembled and disassembled and which may be readily and easily adjusted and firmly held in adjusted position.

The invention contemplates a curtain stretcher which may be supported on legs to which are hinged brace members and which may be rested on the floor or ground or the like or which may be supported from above and suspended from hooks, a clothes line or the like.

The invention contemplates among other things a metallic brace adapted to engage the stretcher members at each of the corners and insure the adjoining members being held at the appropriate angular adjustment which is preferably a right angular adjustment.

In the accompanying drawings, showing one form the invention may take, Figure l is a front elevation of a curtain stretcher. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a curtain stretcher portions being broken away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which a brace may be formed, and Fig. 7 is a perspective View of such a brace.

The stretcher proper comprises two vertical members and two horizontal members to which the curtains may be attached in stretched condition. The structure illustrated comprises a leg member In which acts also as a vertical frame member of the stretchen The member It has pivoted to it at l I a brace member l2. A second leg I3 is likewise provided with a brace member I4 pivoted at l5. Surrounding the leg H5 is a band I 6 which is rigidly fastened to the lower end of the other vertical frame member l1. At its top the leg I3 is pierced by a bolt l8 which engages a brace l9 and fastens it to the leg l3. The brace 19 is of the form illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. The blank shown in Fig. 6 between its sides is cut at 20 through a portion of its length. Along the line 2|, which is substantially a continuation of the cut 20, the blank may be turned at right angles and the turned portion may then be bent outward at right angles on the line 22 so as to form the portions 23 and 2d. The remaining portion of the blank is bent on the lines 25 and 26 forming the back 21, the forwardly extending end portion 28 and the turned over portion 29. It is punctured at suitable points to receive bolts, clamps etc. The brace I9 held by the bolt l8 has its back 21 fastened along the end of the upper horizontal frame member 30 so that the portion 28 lies beyond the frame member I! and the portion 29 overhangs the frame member I1 and may bear directly against it to form a more rigid construction. Threaded in the member 28 is an adjustable clamp 3| illustrated asa bolt provided with a wing nut for easy adjustment. The frame member Il may be inserted longitudinally between the end of the frame member 30 and the portion 28 of the brace I9 and under the overhanging portion 29. At the same time the band i 6 will ride upon the leg l3 and the frame I! may be adjusted to any desired position in which it may be held by manipulation of the bolt 3| which will contact with the side of the frame member ii and force it against the end of the frame member 30. In this position the inner side of the frame member I! will rest against the portion 24 of the clamp [9 so that the members I! and 30 will be -maintained at right angles to each other. It will be understood that the clamp I9 is held on the end of the member 30 in such position that the portion 23 is in contact with the outer and upper side of the frame member 30. A similar clamping member I9 is fastened at the upper end of the leg or frame member l0 and similarly holds the frame member 30 at right angles with the member H1 in any adjusted position. At the lower end of the member I! is a similar brace member I9 which engages a lower; horizontal frame member 32 and holds it at right angles with the frame member I! in any adjusted position. A similar brace i9 is at the left hand end of the lower horizontal frame member 32 and engages the frame member ID and holds it at right angles with the frame member 32 in any adjusted position. It will be understood that by manipulation of the frame members the frame :may be brought to any desired size and the clamping bolts 3! on being tightened will hold the entire frame as a rectangle of any adjusted size. The frame members may be of any suitable length and size.

The braces l2 and M will serve to hold the frame in a somewhat inclined position. If used outdoors and there is a high wind or it is desired to hold the frame in a substantially vertical position this may be accomplished by causing hooks 33 carried by the upper horizontal frame member 30 to engage any suitable supporting device or mechanism such as the line 34 which may be the usual clothes line.

An important feature of the present invention is the arrangement of means for attaching the curtain. Projecting nails or pins of any suitable length and appropriately spaced are inserted into or through a bead member 4|. The bead 4| may then be divided into suitable sections to extend throughout a part or all of the length of each of the various frame members. The bead 4| may then be fastened by screws, nails or other means to the frame members intermediate their sides. The pins 40 thus are exposed and mounted on a hump or raised ridge along each of the frame members thus leaving substantially the entire length of the projecting nails for receiving curtains or a plurality of layers of curtains. It will be noted that the adjustment through the brace members is such that the continuity of the bead 4| is not interfered with. The overhanging portion 29 does not extend to the bead 4|. The inside edges of the frame members I0, I1, 30

and 32 are all free and clear of any obstruction and no portion of the braces |9 extends therein. All of the braces including clamps 3| and the members 23, 24 and 29 are on the opposite sides of the bead 4| from the curtain when its edges are engaged by the pins 40. Thus soiling during adjustment or by contact with the brace members is avoided. a

The portion 29 of the brace members l9 has been illustrated as long enough to overhang the underlying frame members and this may be desirable. It is particularly desirable with respect to the upper portion of the frame since gravity may tend to pull forward and displace the frame members more especially at the two upper corners. The member 29, however, may be shortened wherever used. This is indicated for instance at the bottom of the member I! so that the adjoining frame member 32, for instance, need not be inserted endwise but may be-put in place by passing by the end of the portion 29. This may be a convenience in setting up and taking down the structure.

It will be understood that the stretcher may be disassembled and reduced to its separate portions for storage. Thus the bolts 3| may be released to not clamp the members but allow them to be withdrawn. The member 32 may be readily removed. The member may be removed by sliding the band It down or off the leg member l3. The bolt |8 may be removed to allow the member 30 to be disassembled. The

units thus are each narrow and small in cross section and may be readily stored singly or as a group.

The pins or nails 40 should be made of some material which will not soil the curtain. Stainless steel may be suitable for this purpose as well as for other metallic portions of the apparatus such as the braces, pivots, etc.

All of the details illustrated and described are not essential to all phases of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A joining brace and bracket for a curtain stretcher, of the type comprising upper and lower horizontal members and vertical members each having one end abutting an adjacent member, comprising a portion rigidly fastened near the end of a member and extending beyond said end and then forward and back over itself so as to partially enclose an adjoining member, an adjustable clamping member in the forwardly extending portion adapted to hold the members in adjusted position, a portion bearing on the outer side of the brace carrying member and a portion at right angles thereto extending out wardly of the frame inclosure and adapted to bear against the inner side of the adjacent member.

2. A joining brace and bracket for a curtain stretcher, of the type comprising upper and lower horizontal members and vertical members each having one end abutting an adjacent member, comprising a portion rigidly fastened near the end of a member and extending beyond said end and then forward and back over itself so as to form a seat for an adjoining member, an adjustable clamping member in the forwardly extending portion adapted to hold the members in adjusted position, a portion bearing on the outer side of the brace carrying member and a portion at right angles thereto extending outwardly of the frame enclosure and adapted to bear against the inner side of the adjacent member.

3. A joining brace and bracket for a curtain stretcher of the type comprising upper and lower horizontal members and vertical members each having one end abutting an adjacent member, comprising a portion rigidly fastened near the end of a member and extending beyond said end and then forward so as to form a seat for an adjoining member, an adjustable clamping member in the forwardly extending portion adapted to hold the members in adjusted position, a portion bearing on the outer side of the brace carrying member and a portion at right angles thereto extending outwardly of the frame enclosure and adapted to bear against the inner side of the adjacent member.

4. In a curtain stretcher comprising two ver-. tical and two horizontal frame members, one vertical frame member forming one supporting leg, another supporting leg forv the other vertical frame member, a sliding support fastened near the lower end of the other vertical member and engaging and sliding on the other leg, hinged braces for the legs; a corner brace at the lower end of the last mentioned vertical member comprising a portion fastened to the back of the vertical member and extending beyond the end of the vertical member where it has a portion carrying an adjustable clamp, a portion lying snugly against the outer side of the vertical member, and a portion at right angles thereto extending outwardly and snugly engaging the upper side of a horizontal member so constructed and arranged as to hold the horizontal member at right angles to the vertical member and against its end, a similar brace at the end of the lower horizontal member so constructed and arranged as to hold the vertical member at right angles to the lower horizontal member and against its end, a similar brace at the end of the other horizontal member. so constructed and arranged as to hold the first mentioned vertical member at right angles to said horizontal member and against its end, and a similar brace at the upper end of the other ver tical member so constructed and arranged as to hold the horizontal member at right angles to the vertical member and against its end, the last two braces only having portions overhanging the adjacent members.

5. In a curtain stretcher comprising two vertical and two horizontal frame members, one vertical frame member forming one supporting leg, another supporting leg for the other vertical frame member, a sliding support fastened near the lower end of the other vertical memher and engaging and sliding on the other leg, hinged braces for the legs; a corner brace at the lower end of the last mentioned vertical member comprising a portion fastened to the back of the vertical member and extending beyond the end of the vertical member where it has a portion carrying an adjustable clamp, a portion lying snugly against the outer side of the vertical member, and a portion at right angles thereto extending outwardly and snugly engaging the upper side of a horizontal member so constructed and arranged as to hold the horizontal member at right angles to the vertical member and against its end, a similar brace at the end of the lower horizontal member so constructed and arranged as to hold the vertical member at right angles to the lower horizontal member and against its end, a similar brace at the end of the other horizontal member so constructed and arranged as to hold the first mentioned vertical member at right angles to said horizontal member and against its end, and a similar brace at the upper end of the other vertical member so constructed and arranged as to hold the horizontal member at right angles to the vertical member and against its end.

RICHARD E. WALLS. 

